Comparative study of the conformational parameters head and neck traits in Holstein and local breeds of dairy cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the morphological traits of the head and neck in Holstein and local breeds cows which carried out in AL- Diwaniyah city, to assess these traits of the head and neck in both Holstein and local breed cows; 140 animals were selected from each breed aged about (48 ± 4), to investigate the difference in measurements between them in the following parameters; the head length (HL), the line between medial canthi of the eyes (BE), the head side length (SL), head-neck collar (HNC), neck-body collar (NBC), neck length (NL) and mandibular width (MW). The results revealed showed that the Holstein breed cows had the superiority and increment significantly (p≤0.05) in all traits which had been measured (HL, BE, SL, HNC, NBC and MW) in Holstein cows when compared with local breeds. As followed 58.94±0.15; 50.27±0.11, 22.87±0.08; 19.6±0.09, 62.92±0.08 ; 46.5±0.08, 92.3±0.13 ; 59.58±0.07, 130.78±0.12 ; 120.35±0.12 and 23.23± 0.08; 22.76±0.08 (cm) respectively. Except the (NL) parameter which had the significantly (p≤0.05) and superiority in the local breed cows when compared with Holstein breed 44.0.7±0.09 and 42.64±0.11 (cm) respectively.